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The threat of deselection will carry greater weight since Jane Griffiths, the Labour MP for Reading East, last week became the first sitting MP in this Parliament to be dropped by her local party.

In the Commons last night 28 Labour MPs rebelled over proposals to stop welfare payments to failed asylum seekers.

Under the plans, approved by a 362 majority, families who exhaust their legal fight for asylum will be denied welfare payments if they refuse to take a free flight home. Destitute parents could have their children taken into care.

Although it was not on the scale of earlier revolts over Iraq, top-up fees and foundation hospitals, it was a further sign that a hard-core of Labour MPs is prepared to rebel almost at will.

In January Mr Blair's Commons majority of 161 was cut to five in a top-up fees vote.

A senior Labour figure cited the names of six MPs who could expect to be asked to make a vow of loyalty before the NEC as the price for having their candidacy endorsed.

They are Bob Marshall-Andrews, who has voted against the party whip 51 times since the 2001 election; John McDonnell, with 79 votes against; Jeremy Corbyn, 87; Lynne Jones, 57; Diane Abbott 36; and Mike Wood, 25.

All apart from Mr Wood defied the Government last night.

Labour insiders say there would be little opposition inside the NEC to deselecting a hard core of arch rebels, even from members representing unions and Left-wing MPs such as Dennis Skinner, who see the need for loyalty.

According to Labour whips, loyal MPs complain that having stuck to the party line themselves, they struggle to explain to local parties why others have been able to rebel and get away with it.

The minister, who is close to the discussions being co-ordinated by Lady Morgan, Tony Blair's political secretary, said the MPs would have to account for their rebellious ways and convince the NEC that, overall, they supported the Government's direction.

If MPs could not vote with the Government they should inform the Chief Whip in advance and explain that for reasons of conscience, or because of local factors, they could not back the party line.

In that case rebellion would be accepted with good grace. But party managers believe that some MPs rebel more out of a desire to do damage to their party, than conscience.

One Labour MP said: "No 10 and the Chief Whip have been searching around for ways to restore order."

Senior Labour MPs, however, believe moving against the rebels could be divisive in the election run-up. Many have the backing of constituency activists critical of policies such as tuition fees.

Clare Short, the former international development secretary, is not expected to be called before the NEC.

Downing Street yesterday held back from authorising disciplinary action, including stripping her of membership of the Privy Council.

Ministers are worried about making her a martyr in the eyes of public and party. She is regarded as part of the "Labour tribe" and disciplinary action could backfire.

Officials indicated that she was "on probation". If she made no further disclosures of intelligence secrets, then further action was unlikely.

But Sir Andrew Turnbull, the Cabinet Secretary, reserved the right to initiate procedures to remove her from the Privy Council if she broke ranks again and gave further media interviews on the intelligence services.

Although most Labour MPs have already been reselected by local parties, the NEC must approve all of them as candidates before the election.